Orwell Randonnee 2013

Ghosty669

Hi all,
Just to let you know that the registration for the Orwell Wheelers Randonnee is now open. Details can be found here :

http://www.orwellwheelers.org/news-and-events/452-orwell-randonnee-2013.html

Due to last years numbers, we're limiting this years event to 300 riders so early entry is advised to avoid disappointment.

All entrants are required to enter online and we will not be taking entries on the day.

Any questions, let me know.

eoghan84

thanks ghosty, just wondering how come its restricted to only 300 ppl? How many did it last year?

daragh_

I like the new bit. Did someone feel last year was a bit short on climbs?

Ghosty669

eoghan84 wrote: »

thanks ghosty, just wondering how come its restricted to only 300 ppl? How many did it last year?

No problem. The reason we limited to 300 is for 2 reasons :

1. We need to figure out in advance how much we need to cater for from a food and goodies point of view.
2. With so many riders on the road at the same time, it can be difficult to get marshals moving along the course and so safety can be an issue.

Since we began running this event 3 years ago, the numbers have nearly doubled every year and so we felt the need for this limit was necessary.
Last year, we would have had around 340 people and so are expecting an increase again this year.

Ghosty669

daragh_ wrote: »

I like the new bit. Did someone feel last year was a bit short on climbs?

Thanks Daragh.

From doing plenty of sportives over the years, one of the things that got to me was that the course was always the same so this year we decided to add in this change to keep things fresh.

Don't worry though as we've made it easier on the Shay Elliot and are introducing a further water stop on the way home.

godtabh

Think I'll be singing up for this

smacl

Registered and looking forward to it.

Ghosty669 wrote: »

Don't worry though as we've made it easier on the Shay Elliot

Tunnel or chair lifts?

seamus

godtabh wrote: »

Think I'll be singing up for this

You spelled "puking" wrong

godtabh

seamus wrote: »

You spelled "puking" wrong

I'll try do both

buffalo

daragh_ wrote: »

I like the new bit. Did someone feel last year was a bit short on climbs?

What's the new bit? Though I've already signed up.

Ghosty669

smacl wrote: »

Registered and looking forward to it.



Tunnel or chair lifts?

Wild dogs... takes your mind off the climb as they chase you!

godtabh

Ghosty669 wrote: »

Wild dogs... takes your mind off the climb as they chase you!

wont be much of a chase

Ghosty669

godtabh wrote: »

wont be much of a chase

As long as you're faster than the cyclist beside you, you're good!

Ghosty669

buffalo wrote: »

What's the new bit? Though I've already signed up.

Route is here : http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/171293892

We're bringing the cycle up to Johnny Foxes and then over to the pine forest until the viewing point. From there its over to Glencree where we re-join the route from last year.

godtabh

Ghosty669 wrote: »

As long as you're faster than the cyclist beside you, you're good!

Only way I'll be faster is if the dog all ready has him

godtabh

What kind of food stops/rest stops are going to be available?

seamus

godtabh wrote: »

What kind of food stops/rest stops are going to be available?

If it's the same as last year, there's an official rest stop about 5km before Sally Gap, after you've completed the Luggala climb. This a side of the road stop with water and weird energy bars.

You can stop in Laragh if want to for water and such, but the main food stop and probably the most epic of all is at Glenmalure where there is cake and tea. And more cake and more tea. And soup. Protip: After Glemalure you have a good bit of climbing to do. Don't stuff your face.

Then you have the 50km home. This had no stop last year and it dragged on quite a bit. They say they're throwing in a water stop, presumably around sraghmore or something.

doozerie

Less talk of water stops, please! The weather may be listening and as last weekend demonstrated it has very odd idea of what constitutes a water "stop", which basically amount to "more water, less stop".

Ghosty669

seamus wrote: »

If it's the same as last year, there's an official rest stop about 5km before Sally Gap, after you've completed the Luggala climb. This a side of the road stop with water and weird energy bars.

You can stop in Laragh if want to for water and such, but the main food stop and probably the most epic of all is at Glenmalure where there is cake and tea. And more cake and more tea. And soup. Protip: After Glemalure you have a good bit of climbing to do. Don't stuff your face.

Then you have the 50km home. This had no stop last year and it dragged on quite a bit. They say they're throwing in a water stop, presumably around sraghmore or something.

Thanks Seamus.

We're moving around the water stops based on last years feedback :

1. First water stop comes at the top of the climb after Djouse carpark. This is the one that's usually on the way up to Sally Gap. It should give people a chance to digest food before the climb up Luggala. Expect water, fruit and Powerbars aka weird energy bars...

2. Main food stop happens in Glenmalure where we'll have the usual selection of sandwiches, fruit, drinks, soup and of course carrot cake. With the riders not having to tackle Shay Elliot this year after this stop, we hope the uptake in cake will be better!

3. NEW : Final water stop will be at the Luggala cross roads just after Roundwood. We brought this in as it is a slog home from Rathdrum so hope to give riders that final push on the journey home. Again, the same as the first stop : water, fruit and Powerbars.

4. Finish : We have the chipper once again available to all riders so just present your food voucher to get a choice of burger and chips, chicken burger and chips or sausage and chips. Drink will also be included.

seamus

I didn't even notice that you'd switched directions at Laragh. Shay Elliott is still there, just from the other direction, should be interesting.

It's a bit of a dull slog home alright, might be worth seeing if we can arrange to slot some groups together for that. Be nice to tackle all the hard stuff in the first 80k and then a relaxed social spin home in a group.

buffalo

I'm already looking forward to this. Today has reminded me that nice weather exists, and I really hope we get some for the Randonnée!

Signed up for cake, chips, burgers, cake, tea and cake.

daragh_

Signed up.

mr spuckler

i assume there's a jersey included in the entry fee?? :rolleyes::D

ROK ON

I did this last year & was very well done.
I would be a huge advocate of burgers and cans of coke after any hard event.

monkeyslayer

have done a few of these, missed it last year... signed up for this one, its always one of the most pleasant sportifs... wasn't too mad on the burgers and chips at the end the last time though... the fresh cooked dinners the year before (three years ago?) were much more satisfying, but no complaints otherwise, looking forward to it

Ghosty669

monkeyslayer wrote: »

have done a few of these, missed it last year... signed up for this one, its always one of the most pleasant sportifs... wasn't too mad on the burgers and chips at the end the last time though... the fresh cooked dinners the year before (three years ago?) were much more satisfying, but no complaints otherwise, looking forward to it

Glad to hear you've signed up and sorry you're not big into the burgers and chips. The dinners we did a couple of years ago meant that we had to charge an extra 5-6 euros for something that not a lot of people availed of so hence the change to the fast food.

Ghosty669

mr spuckler wrote: »

i assume there's a jersey included in the entry fee?? :rolleyes::D

Sorry. No event jersey but I have an old Sean Kelly jersey in the back of the closet if it's any good to ya?! Never worn!

godtabh

Just registered for it there. Now for some training

dario28

In !

Bring on the Carrot cake

Consey

Registered. What time is the Chip Van open from if we want to skip that rather bothersome looking cycle beforehand ???

seamus

Confirmed the missus is not working that day, promised to be super-family-man for the rest of the bank holiday weekend, I'm in.

smcclaw

Consey wrote: »

Registered. What time is the Chip Van open from if we want to skip that rather bothersome looking cycle beforehand ???

That attitude won't help you up Alpe d'Huez in July!

wanderer 22

I'm in

godtabh

If any one wants a registration please let me know as I've made a balls up and apparently cant get a refund.

Scuba_Scoper

In like flynn

billyhead

Might sign up for this as a curtain raiser for the WW200. How similar is the route?

seamus

There is now basically no similarity. The first major climb on the WW200 - Powerscourt to Glencree - is a descent on this course. The last major descent on the WW200 - the north face of Shay Elliott - is now the last major climb on this route.

It's more intense than the WW200 - similar amounts of climbing in less distance. So once you've done this, the WW200 will be a breeze.

Consey

If there's saucisse frites ou poulet frites on top of Alpe d'Huez I'll get up there!

smcclaw wrote: »

That attitude won't help you up Alpe d'Huez in July!

dario28

billyhead wrote: »

Might sign up for this as a curtain raiser for the WW200. How similar is the route?

Its the W200 without the flat bits !

Ghosty669

dario28 wrote: »

Its the W200 without the flat bits !

We'll take that as a complement!

whacker00

Fair play Ghosty669 and all the Orwell crew its for a really great cause, such an amazing foundation doing great work. I am so disappointed that i wont be able to take part that weekend.

We are cycling from Malahide-Rosses point-Malahide for the same foundation in March and hopefully its a success

glennbhoy

In

buffalo

whacker00 wrote: »

Fair play Ghosty669 and all the Orwell crew its for a really great cause, such an amazing foundation doing great work. I am so disappointed that i wont be able to take part that weekend.

We are cycling from Malahide-Rosses point-Malahide for the same foundation in March and hopefully its a success

To Rosses Point for the Ross Nugent foundation, I'd sponsor you just for that!

Ghosty669

Hi all,
Many thanks to those that have entered so far. We're seeing huge numbers already registered and so just a heads up that we reckon we will have to close the entry early.

sy

Thanks, just entered

Ghosty669

Last few spots available for this folks so get in now if you're interested in doing it.

Briando

Is 3 weeks long enough to train to be ready for this?

daragh_

Briando wrote: »

Is 3 weeks long enough to train to be ready for this?

Loads of time. Sure it's a walk in the park.

Briando

daragh_ wrote: »

Loads of time. Sure it's a walk in the park.

Ok signing up

daragh_

Sorry, did I say 'walk'? I meant to say 'series of horrific climbs'.

And when I said 'park' of course I meant 'Hell itself'.

It's gonna be great.